The People’s Party announced its position not to join the government. It will continue to act as the opposition leader and is ready to be a quorum but will not vote to support “Chaikasem” as the new prime minister. It pointed out that it is the duty of the coalition parties. It believes that the people want to see the stability of the government and push for the amendment of the constitution.
Mr. Nattapong Ruangpanyawut, leader of the Prachachon Party, along with MPs from the Prachachon Party, jointly held a press conference on the Prachachon Party’s position on the selection of a prime minister, confirming that the party’s political ideology and position have remained firm since last year, when the parliament approved Mr. Settha Thavisin as prime minister. The former Move Forward Party member did not believe that a government formed by a combination of political parties with different ideological beliefs would be able to push forward policies that benefit the people. The party had assessed the government’s
work over the past year, including solving economic problems, people’s livelihoods, solving corruption problems, and general problems. Now, it is necessary to change the prime minister. The coalition parties will continue to work together to propose Mr. Chaikasem Nitisiri to replace Mr. Settha.
Mr. Nattapong stated that the Prachachon Party would like to confirm that we will continue to perform our duties as the opposition leader without participating in the vote to support Mr. Chaikasem as prime minister because it is the duty of the coalition parties to jointly propose a list of names, which is expected to have been agreed upon. Even though the Prachachon Party cannot propose a person to hold the position of prime minister of its own party, it is ready to perform its duties as the opposition leader in the House of Representatives, which still needs to push for many issues and strictly monitor the government to protect the interests of the people.
The leader of the People’s Party confirmed that even though
it is an opposition party, there are still many missions to change politics in the democratic system and there are many agendas that need to be pushed forward together with the government party. One of them is to amend the constitution and organic laws to change the structure of independent organizations and review the ethical standards in political responsibility so that the people will be the judges, not just a few groups of people. If the people will move forward to amend the constitution and related laws through the parliamentary mechanism, and sincerely hope that the new government and prime minister will cooperate with the people for such mission to reclaim the highest power that belongs to the people.
As for how the Prachachon Party MPs will vote tomorrow, Mr. Nattaphong said that he would discuss it at the party MP meeting this evening first. He is confident that the Prachachon Party will definitely not have any cobras raising their hands to vote for the prime ministerial candidate of the coalition p
arty. As for Mr. Chaikasem having health problems, he sees that this is something that the Pheu Thai Party and the coalition parties will have to discuss. However, no matter who is nominated, he believes that it has been carefully considered. It is the duty of the MPs to come together to form a quorum in the meeting to vote for the prime minister.
Mr. Nattaphong sees that what the people think about is the stability of the government from the use of judicial power that has impacts from the legislative and executive branches in dissolving the Move Forward Party and removing the prime minister from the position. Although the People’s Party cannot form a government, it is ready to be a joint agenda that is pushed together, such as amending the constitution and the organic law to provide the greatest benefit to the people.
As for the case where the Bhumjaithai Party announced that it would not cooperate with parties that have a position to amend the Criminal Code, Section 112, Mr. Nattaphong said that Mr. Anuti
n Charnvirakul, the leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, likely meant that the position of joining hands to organize a vote to select a prime minister to form a government should not be related to amending the constitution or amending the Criminal Code, Section 112.-319 –
Source: Thai News Agency